Chapter 86
Geoff tried to stop Nic pacing but she was still nervous.
"Are the muffins done?" he asked her and heard her swear as she ran into the kitchen.
He followed slowly and looked at her.
"I guess you are going to make another batch." He murmured looking at the muffins on the tray that weren't actually that bad but he knew she wanted them to be perfect.
She nodded.
He watched as took out the bowl and started gathering together the ingredients.
"Nic." He said softly.
She looked at him.
"We need to go now or we will be late." He murmured.
She shook her head.
"I'm ready but I need these to be perfect." She told him.
He stepped forward and kissed her.
"Ok." he said and left her to make her muffins knowing that was what she needed to do.
After a time she came out with a box and looked at him.
"Ok?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Have you got everything?" she asked him.
He grinned and patted his pocket checking that he had the envelope.
"Yep." He said with a grin. They went out the door and started walking to her dad's place. It was a beautiful day and they held hands as they walked.
They knocked at the door before walking in and saw El in the kitchen and her dad walking down the stairs with Mike behind him.
"Hey Nic." El called. "Just in time I've just made coffee."
"Not for me." Nic said hurriedly with a look at Geoff.
He grinned at her.
"I'd love a coffee." Geoff said covering quickly.
Ella poured the drinks and handed Mike his, which he took back up the stairs.
"Hey Nic." Roman said to his daughter.
"Dad." She said.
Geoff prodded her and looked at the tin she was clutching.
"Oh yes, I made muffins." She placed the tin on the table.
"Are you going to sit down?" Ella asked them.
Nic grinned.
"Sorry I was just so nervous about making the muffins I guess I got a little wired." Nic explained.
She sat down and Geoff took the seat next to her around the table.
"Well." Ella said. "What have you been up to?"
"I sold some designs." She told her.
"That's wonderful Nic." Roman told his daughter, beaming at her proudly. She grinned and Geoff took her hand.
"We want to give you something." Geoff told them.
He took out the envelope and handed that to Roman and watched as the other man opened it and read the words. He looked at the cheque.
"Why?" He asked them.
Nic smiled at Geoff.
"We love you for the present of the house. We really do, but we need to do it ourselves."
She told them.
"We worked out the money very carefully and took out a mortgage on the house. We've managed, between Nic selling her designs and my books getting published, to clear half of it already." Geoff said softly.
He hoped the other man would understand.
Roman nodded.
"I'm not quite sure what to say. The money I used on the house was Nic's anyway." He told him. "But I can understand you needing to do it on your own."
He looked over at Ella who was smiling she nodded at him.
He stood and held out his hand to Geoff. The younger man stood too and reached out and shook his hand.
"I'm not quite sure what to say Geoff." Roman told him softly.
"I think we need to try one of Nic's muffins." Ella said softly.
Roman sat back down.
Geoff put his hand on the back of Nic's chair and looked at her.
"It's not the only thing we want to talk to you about." Geoff said quickly.
Nic looked over at Ella.
"We're going to have a baby." She said equally as quickly
Ella stood up and moved over to Nic.
"Congratulations." She said to her.
Nic stood and hugged her before bursting into tears.
"Hey." Ella said softly stroking her hair. "It's ok Nic, I'm happy for you."
Roman walked over to the two women.
"I'm happy too as long as the kid doesn't call me grandpa." He said to his daughter with a grin.
Nic looked at her dad and grinned.
"We might decide not to use the term Grandpa but we make no promises." Nic said with a sniff.
She turned and held out her hand to Geoff.
"The thing is though, we want you to be involved Step-mama, if you want to, you know scans and stuff. If you are ready." Nic grinned.
Ella nodded.
"That's a wonderful idea." She told her.
"Hey, what about me?" Roman said to them. "Don't I get to be involved."
"You can go in the delivery room if you want." Geoff offered.
"Thanks but I think I'm busy that day." Roman grinned at him.
"Why don't you pop upstairs and tell Mike he's about to be an uncle." Ella suggested with another smile.
Nic nodded.
She and Geoff walked up the stairs.
Roman looked at her.
She turned and put the empty cups in the sink.
"We should ask if they want to stay for some food don't you think." She said to him.
"El?" he murmured.
"Maybe there is something we could cook." She walked over to the fridge and opened it to look inside.
He stepped up behind her and put his arms around her waist resting his head on her shoulder.
"Ella." He said softly.
She put her hands on his and tugged at them moving away from him.
"You know what I just remembered I need to go pick up some dry cleaning before they shut." She said and walked into the lounge and collected her handbag walking out of the door before he could say something.
He grimaced as he heard her car start up.
Nic walked slowly down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"She's upset isn't she?" she asked her dad.
"I'm thrilled Nic but I have to admit there is a part of me that is also upset." He told her softly pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I can't imagine how bad she might be feeling."
Nic looked at him tearfully.
"She loves you Nic and she's been waiting for you to make this announcement." He took his daughter in his arms.
"I think we should go." She told him.
"I think we should get dinner sorted out and celebrate the fact that I'm having a grandbaby." He told her.
She looked at him.
"Are you sure?" she asked him and saw him nod. "Ok then." She said, "We'll stay."
He grinned at her.
"What do you fancy? Any food cravings yet?" he asked her.
She grinned.
"I'm only just pregnant." She said.
Mike and Geoff started walking down the stairs.
"Is it safe?" Mike asked them.
Roman grinned.
"We're talking food. What do you guys want?" Roman asked them.
"Pizza?" Mike said hopefully.
Nic laughed.
"Go and order them then." Roman told him. "Geoff why don't you sort drinks. I'm just going to go get my phone from upstairs."
Geoff nodded and moved into the kitchen.
Roman stood for a moment before climbing up the stairs and going into the bedroom and pulling his phone out of his pocket and closing the door. He walked over to look out of the window as he dialled as expected he got her voicemail.
"Ella call me back when you get this message please." He said quickly and ended the call. He stood there for a long moment before he gathered his thoughts and went back down the stairs.
"We've ordered pizza." Mike told him and he nodded.
He sat on the sofa opposite Nic and Geoff and Mike handed him a beer.
"So when is the due date?" he asked.
"In 7 months." Nic grinned.
"What are doing about work?"
She took hold of Geoff's hand.
"I'll finish my apprenticeship in 3 months and then we will decide what I want to do." She told him.
"Sounds like you have it all sorted." He murmured.
She looked at Geoff and they nodded.
"As much as we can anyway." Geoff said grinning.
They all looked up when the door opened.
"Sorry. I just remembered I needed to pick up my dry cleaning." Ella apologised to them as she came in though the door. "Mike can you take this upstairs for me and lay it on my bed?" she asked him and handed over the two dresses in plastic bags.
He grinned at her and took it up the stairs.
She moved and sat next to Nic.
"Has someone sorted out food?" she asked smiling at them.
Roman nodded.
"We decided on Pizza." He murmured.
She grinned wider.
"Now then Missy do you want a boy or a girl?" she asked Nic taking hold of her hand.
Nic squeezed her hand and looked at her.
"I want a girl." She said and looked apologetic at Geoff.
"Maybe we could have on of each." Geoff suggested.
"Not until we find out how painful childbirth is." Nic said sternly and glared at him.
Ella laughed.
"You should do it my way and just adopt random children." She said.
Nic laughed.
"Am I random then?" she asked her.
Ella shook her head.
"Nope you are pretty special my daughter."
"Hey, this isn't fair I have to deal with hormones. You'll have me sobbing." Nic grouched.
"I wouldn't say that too loudly otherwise Mike will start being nice to you just to see if he can make you cry" Ella warned.
She stood and went into the kitchen and reached for a beer for herself. Roman walked up behind her and placing one arm either side of her, he also reached into the fridge and grabbed his second.
"Is this going to be a Finding Nemo night?" he asked softly.
She nodded.
"When it gets too much say the word and I'll get rid of them."
She turned in his arms and pressed a kiss to his lips.
"Love you." She told him.
He grinned.
"I love you." He murmured.
Their eyes met for a moment and they both thought of the baby they lost. She smiled briefly and went back to sit with Nic.
"Geoff, do you want another drink?" Roman asked.
"I've still got some." He replied.
A knock sounded at the door and he moved from the kitchen to collect the delivery.